At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Mark Botell was always an easy figure to spot on the ice and opposing players definitely kept an eye on the big defenseman, who was known to dish out thundering bodychecks. He played a year of Tier Two hockey with the Wexford Raiders of the MTHL. In 1978-79 he made the jump to major junior, playing for the Niagara Falls Flyers. Midway through the next season he was traded to the Windsor Spitfires, but after just two games in the lineup was again moved to the Brantford Alexanders where he played out his junior eligibility.

Botell's size and strength were certainly the positive characteristics of his game, but there was a concern over his lack of speed on the ice. He was still available in round eight of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft and the Philadelphia Flyers selected him with the 168th pick.

As a 20-year-old rookie, Botell was inserted into 32 games for the Flyers in 1981-82 and contributed four goals and 14 points. Despite what was considered to be a decent rookie campaign, it also turned out to be his final NHL season. He never again was able to crack the NHL but did play in the minors until 1985-86, finishing his career with the St. Catharines Saints of the AHL, at the time the farm club of the Toronto Maple Leafs.